Ship Photos of the Day – Egypt Opens New Suez Canal

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi signed an order on Thursday allowing ships to pass through the New Suez Canal.

The $8.5 billion project involved the dredging of an adjacent waterway that now allows vessels to pass each other through most of the canal, cutting transit times (18 hours to 11 hours for southbound traffic) and theoretically allowing more ships through the canal.

The expansion was opened during a huge inauguration ceremony put on by al-Sisi on Thursday in Ismailia, Egypt. The New Suez Canal is being considered the centerpiece of al-Sisi’s plans to revitalize the country’s economy after years of political turmoil.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi waves from a boat on the “New Suez Canal”, August 6, 2015. REUTERS/The Egyptian Presidency/Handout

A ship named “Long life Egypt” crosses the new section of the Suez Canal after the opening ceremony. Egypt staged a show of international support as it inaugurated the extension, which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hopes will power an economic turnaround in the Arab world’s most populous country. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Egyptian air force planes parade in front of a statue representing a man digging during the inauguration ceremony of the new Suez Canal, in Ismailia, Egypt, August 6, 2015. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

The containership Thalassa Avra crosses the new section of the Suez Canal after the opening ceremony. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Egyptians waves from a cargo container ship crossing the new section of the Suez Canal after the opening ceremony. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

The photos below are from Maersk Line, one of the biggest users of the canal with 1,400 transits per year. Check them out on Maersk Line Social.

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